Search - J.B. Hutto :: Hip Shakin

Solid but unremarkable live album

Docendo Discimus | Vita scholae | 08/01/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This 55-minute live album from the Austrian Wolf-label finds slide guitarist J.B. Hutto backed by drummer Fritz Osmec and bassist Small Blues Charlie (!) - except on the last two tracks, which feature Brewer Phillips and Ted Harvey of Hound Dog Taylor's band the Houserockers.

The sound is not too great...it's not noisy, it's just a little flat, and there is very little separation of the instruments. But the music is good.



J.B. Hutto is in complete control; his declamatory vocals are a little bit low in the mix, perhaps, but his piercing slide guitar is right up front (I actually had to reduce the treble a little!).

Hutto performs a fine rendition of Muddy Waters' "Honey Bee", a tough "Dust My Broom", and several original songs, including a swaggering "Dim Lights", and a great "Too Much Alcohol". The otherwise fine "Long Distance Call" (also by Muddy Waters) is marred a little by some murky vocals, and the last two songs, which are from a different concert, suffer from generally poor sound.



All in all, this is not excactly a polished performance, and it certainly isn't the place to start if you're new to Joseph Benjamin Hutto. But if you're a fan you'll want a listen."